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Majority of Medicaid patients on antipsychotic drugs do not undergo metabolic tests, says study

Despite government warnings and professional recommendations about diabetes risks associated with second-generation antipsychotic drugs, fewer than one-third of Medicaid patients who are treated with these medications undergo tests of blood glucose or lipid levels, according to a report in the January issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

5 Jan 2010

VELCADE sNDA receives FDA approval

Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a supplemental new drug application (sNDA) for VELCADE, which expands the label to include long-term (median follow-up 36.7 months) overall survival (OS) data from the landmark VISTA trial and provides specific dosing recommendations for patients with hepatic impairment. The VISTA trial examined the use of VELCADE based therapy in patients with previously untreated multiple myeloma (MM).

5 Jan 2010

H1N1 vaccine available at Walgreens pharmacies and Take Care Clinics

Every Walgreens pharmacy, every day. The once-scarce H1N1 vaccine is now available daily at all of the more than 7,100 Walgreens pharmacies and 350 Take Care Clinics throughout the country.

5 Jan 2010

AP series examines worldwide impact of drug resistance

The Associated Press reports on how the misuse of drugs worldwide has contributed to drug-resistant diseases in a series of articles following a six-month investigation by the news service.

5 Jan 2010

Talampanel slows progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

A drug already used to treat symptoms of epilepsy has potential to slow the muscle weakening that comes with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), scientists report after completing a Phase II clinical trial-an early, small-scale test to show if the drug works and continues to be safe.

5 Jan 2010

Peginterferon alpha-2a yields better results in treating patients with chronic hepatitis C

In patients with chronic hepatitis C, treatment with peginterferon alpha-2a (PegIFNα2a) plus ribavirin (RBV) better suppresses the virus to undetectable levels in the blood than treatment with peginterferon alpha-2b (PegIFNα2b) plus RBV, according to two new head-to-head studies in Gastroenterology, the official journal of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute.

5 Jan 2010

GIVI scientists discover anti-HIV molecule that enhances infection, reduces transmission

Scientists at the Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology (GIVI) have discovered a new agent that might inhibit the infectivity of HIV. The agent, surfen, impairs the action of a factor in semen that greatly enhances the viral infection.

5 Jan 2010

FDA approves generic donepezil hydrochloride orally disintegrating tablets

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first generic versions of Aricept (donepezil hydrochloride) orally disintegrating tablets on Dec. 11. Donepezil hydrochloride is indicated for the treatment of dementia related to Alzheimer's disease.

5 Jan 2010

Positive results from Pearl Therapeutics' PT005 Phase 2a trial for COPD

Pearl Therapeutics Inc., a company developing high-quality combination therapies for the treatment of highly prevalent chronic respiratory diseases, today announced positive results from its first clinical trial in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

5 Jan 2010

Elusys Therapeutics signs contract to complete the final development of Anthim

Elusys Therapeutics, Inc. (Elusys), a privately-held biopharmaceutical company, announced today that it has signed a contract potentially totaling up to $143 million to complete the final development, commercial manufacturing and licensure of Anthim, the company's late stage anthrax therapeutic.

5 Jan 2010

NeoPharm submits IL13-PE38QQR IND for the treatment of IPF

NeoPharm, Inc., announced today that it has filed an investigational new drug application (IND) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for IL13-PE38QQR (IL13-PE) for the treatment of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF). IPF is the most deadly disease of the lungs in humans with very high morbidity. There is currently no proven effective treatment for the cure of this disease.

5 Jan 2010

Pfizer's Revatio solution for injection receives European Commission approval

Pfizer Inc. announced today that the European Commission has approved Revatio® (sildenafil) solution for injection for patients who are currently prescribed oral Revatio and who are temporarily unable to take oral medicine, but are otherwise clinically and haemodynamically stable.

4 Jan 2010

CBI signs definitive share purchase agreement to acquire GL Biochem

Commonwealth Biotechnologies, Inc. (“CBI”) is pleased to announced it has entered into a revised and binding definitive share purchase agreement to acquire the parent of Shanghai-based GL

4 Jan 2010

FDA grants Priority Review designation for InterMune's NDA for pirfenidone

InterMune, Inc. today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for review and granted Priority Review designation for the company's New Drug Application (NDA) for pirfenidone for the treatment of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

4 Jan 2010

Dicerna Pharmaceuticals and Kyowa Hakko Kirin sign research collaboration and license agreement

Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (Dicerna) a second generation RNA interference (RNAi) company developing novel therapeutics utilizing its proprietary Dicer Substrate Technology™ and Dicer Substrate siRNA (DsiRNA) molecules, and Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co., Ltd. (Kyowa Hakko Kirin), one of Japan's leading biopharmaceutical companies, announced today that the two companies have entered into a research collaboration and license agreement for the research, development and commercialization of drug delivery systems and DsiRNA pharmaceuticals for therapeutic targets in oncology.

4 Jan 2010

ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals submits a NDA for its vinorelbine injectable emulsion

ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that it has submitted a New Drug Application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its product candidate ANX-530 (vinorelbine injectable emulsion).

4 Jan 2010

Health risks of wooden pallet shipping platforms, call for Congress and FDA regulation

The expanded recall of TYLENOL Arthritis pain reliever is fresh evidence of the need for Congress and the FDA to regulate wood pallets used to transport food and pharmaceuticals in the United States because of the dangers they pose to human health.

4 Jan 2010

China Yongxin Pharmaceuticals announces projected financial results for 2009

China Yongxin Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading manufacturer, distributor and retailer of Chinese traditional medicines, pharmaceutical products, natural health products, health food, cosmetics, and medical equipment in Northeastern China, today announced its projected financial results for the year ending December 31, 2009.

4 Jan 2010

CDC and USOC to hold H1N1 vaccination events in Colorado and Alaska

As America gears up for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, the U.S. Surgeon General and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) leaders will team up with the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) to hold H1N1 vaccination events at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and the 2010 U.S. Cross Country Championships in Anchorage, Alaska on Tuesday, January 5, 2010.

4 Jan 2010

HHS secretary unveils new H1N1 flu vaccination advertisement

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced a new H1N1 flu vaccination advertisement that will air during four College Football Bowl Games held over the New Year's holiday.

4 Jan 2010